Wrapping machine



May 15, 1956 J. T. SCHOOLER 2,74

WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Dec. 29, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet l JOSB H T SCHOOLfR INVENTOR.

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May 15, 1956 J. T. SCHOOLER WRAPPING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 29, 1952 JOSfPf/ f SCHOOZL R INVENTOR.

May 15, 1956 J. T. SCHOOLER WRAPPING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 29, 1952 I7 .1 fG. 1 :9

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WRAPPING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 29, 1952 JOSEPH Z 567/0015]? INVENTOR.

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May 15, 1956 J. T. SCHOOLER WRAPPING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet Filed Dec. 29, 1952 mw m INVENTOR.

BY WZWZXZ/V JOS'Pf/ T 56/900152 United States PatentO WRAPPING MACHINE Joseph T. Schooler, Burbank, Calif. Application December 29, 1952, Serial No. 328,485 25 Claims. (Cl. 53379) This invention relates to improvements in packagewrapping machines. The application is a continuationin-part of my pending application for a Wrapping Machine, Serial No. 111,931, filed October 23, 1949 and now abandoned.

Explanatory of the present invention, a large number of commodities are now marketed within sealed wrappers. These sealed wrappers are usually in the form of either foils, papers, or films which are coated w1th thermo-sensitive adhesive. Frequently, the commodity is initially positioned in a cardboard container, although this is not necessarily true in all instances. Whether the commodity is in such a container or not, it is desirable to wrap the container or the commodity as thecase may be, within a wrapper which is first positioned about the commodity in a circumferential manner and sealed by the application of heat forming an encircling tube, the edge portions of which are adhesively fastened together to form a longitudinally extending seam. Thereafter, the ends of the tube are folded over the ends of the pack age and are sealed in their closing positions by the application of heat.

The sizes of the packages may vary considerably as to length, width, and thickness, and a primary object of the present invention is to provide a machine which is easily and quickly adjustable so as to accommodate a wide variety of packages of diflerent sizes yet which will form a neat and attractive closure at the ends of the Wrapper.

More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide a wrapping machine provided with tuckers designed to fold edge flap portions of the wrapper inwardly over the ends of the package and which will thereafter fold side ilap portions of the wrapper inwardly over the edge flap portions, the side flap portions and the edge flap portions being connected to each other by gusset portions.

As the frictional coeificient of various wrappers and their thermo-sensitive adhesive coatings varies considerably, it is a further object of the invention to so design the tuckers and folding plows or cams in such a manner that dragging of the wrapper as it slides thereagainst will not involve a distortion of the wrapper in such a manner that a neat and attractive closure will not be produced.

It is, therefore, another object of the invention to provide a wrapping machine wherein the tuckers are so arranged as to continue to hold the edge flap portions firmly against the ends of the package while the side flap portions are being folded thereover, and to release the edge flap portions only after the side flap portions have been folded into sufiicient engagement with the edge flap portions that no distortion of the gusset portions or displacement of the edge flap portions is permissible which, if it occurred, might form an unattractive end closure for the package.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a Wrapping machine which is of relatively simple construction and which has a number of parts readily adjustable to meet various packaging requirements, and which has the parts readily accessible for adjustment and for replacement or repair.

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the same, illustrating in full lines one extreme position of operating parts of the machine and in dotted lines another extreme pos1- tion of these parts;

Fig. 3 is a partial view in side elevation and may be regarded as having been taken upon the lines 33 upon Fig. 1 in the direction indicated;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken substantially upon the line 4-4 upon Fig. 2 in the direction indicated;

Fig. 5 is a partial view in top plan and on an enlarged scale of'a portion of the apparatus as depicted in Fig. 1, illustrating mechanism for effecting a closure and sealing of the wrapper at one end of the package;

Fig. 6 is a'vertical section illustrating the elements shown in Fig. 5, and may be regarded as a vertical section taken substantially upon the line 66 upon Fig. 1 in the direction indicated;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but illustrating the position assumed by the parts when the machine is adjusted to accommodate thick packages or commodities;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken substantially upon the line 8-8 upon Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is a partial view in vertical section taken substantially upon the line 9-9 upon Fig. l in the direction indicated;

Fig. 10 is a vertical section taken substantially upon the line 10-10 upon Fig. l in the direction indicated;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view, illustrating the package as having the Wrapper applied thereto and the initial step of forming the wrapper into a tube about the package as having been completed;

Figs. l2, l3, 14, 15, and 16 are perspective views indicating progressive steps performed on the ends of the wrapper in eifecting a closure about an end of the package;

Fig. 17 is a partial view in vertical section illustrating the position assumed by the parts thereof in forming the end of the wrapper into the position shown in Fig. 13;

Fig. 18 is a partial view in vertical section taken substantially upon the line 18-18 upon Fig. 17 in the direction indicated;

Fig. 19 is a partial view in vertical section taken substantially upon the line ISL-19 upon Fig. 10 in the direction indicated; and

Fig. 20 is a partial view in vertical section taken substantially upon the line 2020 upon Fig. 10 in the direction indicated.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout, the opeations performed by the machine embodying the invention can best be understood with reference to Figs. 11 to 16, inclusive. As therein depicted a package, generally indicated at P, is to be wrapped with a wrapper W. In the interests of clarity the package P will be referred to as having a forward or leading edge 10, a trailing edge 11, an .upper side 12, a lower side 13, and ends 14 and 15. The wrapper W is first Wrapped in a circumferential manner around the sides and edges of the package P and hasits edge portions brought into overlapped relationship as indicated at 16. The partially wrapped package is then positioned on a heating element so that the overlapped portion will be heated, thereby causing the adheslve coating on the wrapper to join or adhesively fasten the overlapped portions, forming a longitudinal seam. The wrapper thus wrapped around the package as shown flap portions over the ends of the package causes gussets 19' to be formed between. the edge flapportions and.

upper and lower side flap portions 20 and. 21. Thereafter, a lower plow or cam member is encountered which bends the. lower side flap portion, 2L upwardly over the edge flap portionsw while the edge flap portions, are being held against the ends of the package. This upward fold.- ing of the bottom side flap portion-21v is illustrated in Fig. 14. Immediately thereafter an: upper plow or cam member is, encountered. which bends the upper side flap portion 20 downwardly into overlapping relationship wtih respect to the. bottom side flap portions as depicted in Fig. 15. Finally, heaters are brought into engagement with the wrappedpackage at the ends thereof, causing the thermosensitive adhesive to adhesivelyfasten and thus seal the flap portions together over the ends of the package; and the package is thus completely wrapped and sealed as is depicted in Fig; 16. When thus completely wrapped and sealed the operation of the machine is completed and the package may be either removed therefrom or discharged from. the machine. onto a conveyor belt, table or into a chute. Certain wrapping material, such. as cellophane, are equipped with quick setting; thermo-sensitive adhesive coatings and the completion of. the sealing takesplace very rapidly when heated. Other wrapping material, such as foil or paper, may have thermoplastic or wax coatings which require that, after being heated to a fusion point, thereafter the flap portions. be helda. short period of time to allow the coating to-congeal or set in order to complete the sealing. Consequently when such materials are used the machine is provided with holding: devices for holding the flap portions. after they have been heated for asufiicient time to allow the. coating to congeal or set and the packages are thereafter either removed from the machineor discharged therefrom.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the machine embodying the present invention consists of a supporting structure comprising essentially a three-legged table. Three legs are preferable to assure that the machine-will rest solidly on any floor or supporting surface. The table is shown as consisting of a table top 25 supported on two spaced'forward legs 26 and-.a single rear leg 27. The forward. legs are preferably supported onrollers 28 to facilitate movement of the machine from place to place whenever the rear leg 27; is lifted. The frictional engagement between the rear, leg and the floor will normally holdthe machine in any location where it may be deposited.

At the upper forward corner of the table there is mounted an auxiliary table 29 adapted to have a stack 30 of wrappers W positioned thereon. vidual wrappers thereof maintained in vertical alignment along one edge by an upstanding flange 31 on theauxiliary table. Adjacent one edge of the auxiliary table there are upstanding cylindrical guides 32 and 33, the spacing of which can be varied on loosening thumb nuts therefor indicated; at 34, see Fig. 2. An angular guide 35-is adjustably-mountedon the auxiliary table, suchas by screws 36. Guides 37 and 38 have stems which extend downwardly through any of several apertures3'9 in the auxiliary table and-which are equipped withwing nuts. These wing nuts on tightening.-willholdtheguides- 37 and 38 in any adjusted position: so as to engage the sides of the stack 30.. In this.

manner, asthe stack 30 is confined by the. guide, 31, the guides 32' and 33' and the guides 37 and 3 8, the wrappers This stack has the indi- 4 may be accurately positioned with relation to the guide 35. Frequently, the wrappers are printed prior to application to the package P and under such circumstances it is desirable to have the printed matter or trademark accurately positioned with respect to the sides and edges of the package.

In first applying the wrapper to the package, the package P is positioned: on top of the stack and is pushed rearwardly until its rearward movement is arrested by the guide or stop 35'. The spacing of the guides 32 and 33 is such as to snugly receive the package therebetween and these guides serve to center the package with relation to the width of the wrapper. When the package has been thus positioned between the guides 32 and 33 and against the guide or stop 35, the forward end of the uppermost wrapper is drawn upwardly against the trailing or forward sideli ofthe packagev and then over the upper side 12, downwardly oven the leading edge Ill: and forwardly over the bottom side 13'. This: operation is manually performed, and in so doing it may be necessary to lift the package P and move it rearwardly from between the two guides 32 and 33.- The package is thus wrappedin the manner illustratedin Fig. 11.

In the tabletop 25 adjacent the forward end thereof there is anopening 4i); At therear of this opening an electric heating element 41 extends transversely across the table. A finger guard 42extends across the opening immediately inadvance of the heating element to prevent engagement between the fingers of the operator and the heating element. When the package P has been wrapped by the-wrapper on the auxiliary table 29'into the condition shown in Fig. ll, it is transferred from the auxiliary table and positioned on the-heating element 41. The presence of the packagetherefrom and to cause it to move rearwardly through the machine. To thisend a treadle. 43, see Fig. 2, is: pivotally mounted at 44 upon the bracing structure 4'5 connecting the legs. This treadl'e has its forward end 46 operable by the foot of the operator. it is connected by means of a link 4'7 to a bcllcrank 48 that is pivotally mounted at 49-011 the bracing structure The bellcrank is preferably of a truss-like structure for stifiness purposes. and is urged into its forwardmost position shown in full lines on Fig. 2 by a tension spring 50. Theupper end of the bellcrank 48 has pivotally connected thereto a link 51 which, in turn, is pivotally connected to a slide generally designated at 52. The slide 52 comprises two' parallel bars 53 and 54 extending transversely With relation to. the table top 25. These bars have their ends connected to the upright ends 55 of a transversely extending member 56,, see Fig. 9. The upright ends 55 are movable in slots 57 in. the table top and beneath the table top there are disposed longitudinally extending. rails 58 and 59; The transversely extending. member 56 extendstransversely beneath. these rails and. is retainedthereon by' means of fiber discs 60which are securedto the transversely extending member 56 and which extend over the tops of the rails. Forward movement of the slide 52islimited by a. resilient bumper 61 and a similar bumper is arranged at the rear ends of the rails 58 and 59. Onthe two bars 53 and 54 there are lower first tucker. members 62 and 631 These members have hub or base-portions 64. through which the rods 53- and 54 slidably extendl They are bifurcated and equipped with cap screws 65: or. the: equivalent by'which they may be tightened into clamping relationship: in any adjusted position along the lengths of the bars 53 and 54. On the lower first tucker members there are upstanding pins 66 on which are vertically adjustable upper first tucker members 67 and 68. These upper first tucker members are held in vertically adjusted position on their respective pins 66 by means of set screws 69. Pusher mem bers 70 and 71 have bolt and slot connections with the lower first tucker members so that their positions with respect thereto can be adjusted.

When the treadle 43 is depressed by the foot of the operator the slide 52 will be caused to slide forwardly on the rails 58 and 59 to engage the package which has been positioned on the heating element 41. The upper and lower first tucker members 67, 68, 61, and 62 are spaced on the bars 53 and 54 so that the ends of the package are just receivable therebetween. The pusher members 70 and 71 being disposed inwardly of the tuckers serve to engage the trailing edge 11 of the package and push it rearwardly from the heating element 41. However, as the tuckers 62, 63, 67, and 68 project rearwardly beyond the pusher members 70 and 71, the tuckers will engage the trailing edge flap portions 17 of the wrapper W and fold or bend these portions inwardly against the ends of the package as depicted in Fig. 12. In this manner, the slide 52 performs two functions, one such function being to bend the edge flap portions 17 against the ends of the package and the other function being to bodily push the package rearwardly from the heater 41 and to push all of the packages that may be in the machine in a rearward direction ahead of it.

Rearwardly of the heating element 41 there. are two laterally adjustable side frames 75 and 76. These side frames are angular in cross section having bottom flanges or base portions 77 and upright or side portions 78. The base portions 77 have nuts 79 secured to the under sides thereof through which screws 80 and 81 extend. Each screw is provided with right and left-hand threads and the nuts on the side frames 75 and 76 are provided with threads complementary thereto. The two screws 80 and 81 are caused to rotate in unison by means of a chain 82 which is trained over sprockets on the ends of the screws. The screw 80 is equipped with a handwheel 83 by which it may be rotated and by means of the chain 82 the screw 81 will be caused to rotate in unison therewith. Due to the right-hand and left-hand threads on the two screws it will be apparent that if the handwheel 83 is rotated in the one direction the side frames 75 and 76 will be adjusted towards each other. Conversely, if the handwheel. S3 is rotated in the opposite direction the side frames 75 and 76 will be caused to mutually separate. By means of this adjustment of the side frames, the machine can be adjusted to accommodate packages of various lengths from end to end. The bottom flange portions of the side frames 75 and 76 provide rails on which the wrapped package is slidable as it is moved rearwardly from the heating element 41. It is also desirable to confine or retain the package against these base portions 77, but have the confining or retaining means vertically adjustable so that the machine is capable of accommodating packages of varying thicknesses. To this end, upper rails 84 and 85 are provided which are also angular in cross-section and which have their forward ends bent upwardly as indicated at 86 to facilitate entry of the package between these upper rails and the base portions 77 as they pass from the heating element. T he upper rails are mounted on crank pins 87 of bellcranks 88 and 89. These bellcranks are pivotally mounted on the side frames 75 and 76 at 90 and 91, respectively, it being understood that there is one bellcrank 88 and one bellcrank 89 for each side frame. The bellcranks 83 and 89 on each side frame are connected together by a link 92 to cause them to move in unison and thus maintain a parallel relationship between the upper rails 84 and 85 and the base portions 77 of their respective side frames. Each of the bellcranks 88 has its lower arm bifurcated as indicated at 933 and a rod 94 extends transversely across the machine and through these bifurcations. The rod 94 is in reality a crank pin for cranks 95 that are pivotally mounted by means of a transversely extending rod 96 on crank hangers 97. At one end of the rod or rockershaft 96 there is a slotted quadrant 98 having a handle 99 by which it may be adjusted. The slot of the quadrant has a stud 100 extending therethrough and equipped with a thumb nut 101. By means of this construction it will be appreciated that whenever the side frames 75 and 76 are transversely adjusted by means of the handwheel 83 the bellcranks 88 and 89 on these side frames will be moved transversely therewith. During such transverse movement the bellcranks 88 merely slide or move in a transverse direction which is axial with respect to the rod 94. However, in any laterally adjusted position of the side frames it is possible to virtually adjust the upper rails 84 and 85. This is accomplished by manipulating the handle 99 to swing the quadrant 98 when the thumb nut 101 is loosened. Manipulation of the handle will cause rotary motion to be imparted to the rockershaft 96, and consequently, swinging movement of the rod or crank 94 about the rockershaft 96 as a center. Swinging movement of the rod or crank 94 imparts swinging movement to the bellcranks 88 about their pivots 90 as centers and as these bellcranks are connected by links 92 to their respective bellcranks 89, the upper rails will be raised or lowered and their parallel relationship with the base portions 77 maintained. It will be appreciated that raising and lowering of the upper rails 84 and $5 can be accomplished in any position of lateral adjustment of the side frames 75 and 76. Conversely, lateral adjustment of the side frames by the handwheel 83 in no way affects or is dependent upon the vertical adjustment of the rails 84 and 85.

Near the forward ends of the two side frames 75 and 76 there are upper and lower second tuckers 105 and 106. These tuckers are in the form of horizontally disposed plates which present only edge portions toward the ends of the package. The lower second tuckers 106 are rigidly attached, such as by rivets 107 to their respective side frames and bear or maintain a constant relationship with respect to the base portions 77 of the side frames. The upper second tuckers 105 are yieldably mounted by means of screws surrounded by springs indicated at 108 on the backs of the upper rails. Ordinarily, these upper tuckers have their edges in a certain spaced relationship to the upper rails 84 and 85, but if the upper rails are adjusted to a very low elevation to accommodate very thin packages, the upper tuckers 105 may engage the lower tuckers 106 and when this occurs the yieldable connection at 108 enables the upper rails to assume closer positions to the upper tuckers 105 than normal, or closer than as illustrated in Fig. 6.

On each base portion 77 of each side frame there is a bottom plow or cam 109 rigidly secured thereto. Each plow or cam presents an upwardly and rearwardly sloping edge 110 that extends upwardly and rearwardly from the base portion 77 to a substantially horizontal top edge 111. The rear of the plow or cam slopes downwardly as illustrated at 112. Against the outer side of each lower plow or earn 109 there is disposed a supplemental extension member 113. This is pivotally secured to the cam 109 by means of a screw 114 surrounded by a compression spring 115 which urges the supplemental cam into frictional engagement with the outer side of the cam 109. Each supplemental cam member has a shoulder 116 formed on its inner face which, when the supplemental cam 113 is swung upwardly, will assume a position overlying the horizontal edge 111. Normally the supplemental cam 113 occupies a position behind the cam 109 as depicted in Fig. 6 but when the machine is adjusted to accommodate thick packages the supplemental earn 113 is swung upwardly so that its forward edge forms a continuation. of the inclined edge 110. The edge 110 is effective to bend the bottom side flap 21 upwardly from the position shown in Fig. 13 into the position shown in Fig. 14: in the manner as depicted in Fig. 19. It is to be noted, however, that the rearwardly extending tongue 117 on the lower second tucker member 166 is disposed in overlapping relationship to the lower cam or plow 109. This tongue is effective to hold the edge flaps 17 and 18 in firm engagement with the end of the package while the bottom side flap is being folded upwardly thereov'er. This retention of the edge flaps in firm engagement with the ends of the package while the bottom side flap is being folded upwardly enables a smooth and proper folding of the bottom side flap to be obtained and causes a proper creasing of the gussets to take place.

Each of the side frames has an upper plow or cam member 118 secured to the upright flange 7?- thereof such as by spacers 11h. Each upper plow or cam presents a downwardly and rearwardly inclined edge 120 which is effective to fold the top side fiap 2d downwardly over the lower side flap 21 or from the position shown in Fig. 14 through the position shown in Fig. 15 into the position shown in Fig. 16. It is to be noted that the forward end of the edge 12% projects forwardly over the tongue 121 at the rear end of the second tucker member 165 so that the tongue can likewise retain the tops of the edge flaps 17 and 18 pressed firmly against the package ends while the upper side flap 29 is being folded downwardly. In association with the plow or cam member 118 there is an adjustable plow r cam member 122. This cam member is in the form of a thin elongated plate disposed against the outer side of the cam 113. It is pivotally secured to its upper rail 84 or 85, as the case may be, by means of a bolt 123 which is surrounded by a compression spring 1-24. This end of the supplemental cam 122 is consequently verticaliy adjustable with its upper rail. T he rear end of this supplemental cam member is slidable on a stud 125 in the course of vertical adjustment of the rail. The supplemental cam member 1122 presents a bottom edge 126 and this edge usually is the edge that earns the upper side flap ill downwardly. In other words, in the usual position of the machine, somewhat as depicted in Fig. 6, the edge 126 functions to press the upper side flap It downwardly and the edge has little or no effect under these circumstances. However, when the machine is adjusted to accommodate thick packages somewhat as is illustrated in Fig. 7, the edge 126 may approach the edge 120 or even be concealed behind the cam 118. It is to be observed, however, that in all positions of adjustment the supplemental cam member 122 rises and falls with the rails 84 or 85 as the case may be and the edge 126 is consequently always in a proper position to effect a. proper downward folding of the upper side flap when ever it is exposed below the edge 1%. The tongue 121 on the upper second tucker member likewise bears an overlapping relationship to this supplemental cam member .122 and consequently in all positions of adjustment where the edge 1% is exposed the tongue can continue to hold the edge flap portions 17 and 18 pressed firmly against the package and while the downward folding of the top side flap is being accomplished.

As will be observed from an inspection of Fig. 5, the cam members 199, 115% and 122 are so arranged as to converge slightly toward the rear of the machine, that is, the forward ends of the two opposed plows or cam members 109 are spaced from each other a little more than the spacing of their rear ends. The same is true of the opposed cam members 118 and of the supplemental cam members 122. package initially engages these earn members there is very little, if any, frictional drag on the wrapper. At the trailing or rear ends of the cam members there is the maximum side pressure imposed tending to press the folded'wrapper firmly against the ends of the package.

' Near the rear end of each base'portion 77of each side frame there is an aperture 130'. Opposed heating ele- Consequently when the wrappedments 13-1 and 132 are pivotally supported on hangers 133 secured to the under sides of the side frames as at 134 and 135, respectively. The arrangement of the pivots 1 34 and 135 is such that each of the heating elements 131 and 132 will tend to swing outwardly into their fullline positions shown in Fig. 8, gravitationally. The base of each heating element extends outwardly and is equipped with a-roller, such rollersbeing indicated at 136 and 137. These rollers engage the top of a transversely extending bar 138 which is vertically guided on pins or guides 139. The bar is adjustably mounted by means of bolt and slotconnections on a lifter 140' which lifter in turn is mounted on a vertical rod 1M that is yieldably connected such as by a spring 142 to the extreme forward end of the treadle 43. As the heating elements 131 and 132 are mounted on the side frames and 76 they are adjustable inwardly and outwardly along with the side frames. However, whenever the treadle 43 is depressed it is effective to lift the rod 141, the lifter and the bar 138, causing the heating elements 131 and 132 to swing from their full-line positions, shown in Fig. 8, into engage ment with the ends of the wrapped package, thus causing the adhesive coating on the wrapper on the overlapped flap portions to adhesively fasten the flap portions together, thus sealing the package. After the heating elements 131 and 132 are brought into engagement with the package, further depression of the treadle 43 is absorbed by the yieldable connection at 142 so that the heating elements cannot be caused to crush the package endwise. The sealing of the wrapped package by the heating elements may complete the operation of the machine when the wrapping material is equipped with a quicksetting adhesive. However, some wrapping material, such as foil and paper, have coatings that require some little time to cool or congeal or set after they have been brought to a fusion point by the heating elements. To accommodate such wrapping materials, retainers 145 are mounted on the side frames 75 and 76 rearwardly of the heating elements 1-31 and 132. These retainers may consist of narrow plates 146 mounted on the portions 77 of the side frames and which carry upstanding posts 147 and 1'48. These posts are surrounded by spacer sleeves 149 and heavy wires have their ends bent around the posts 147 and 148 between the spacer sleeves 149 in such a position as to engage the flap portions of the wrapper and hold them firmly against the ends of the package. Whenever a package is pushed from between the heating elements 131 and 132 it has the ends of the wrapped package immediately engaged by the wires 15% which will retain the flap portions pressed firmly against the ends of the package while the adhesive coating is congealing and setting. Thereafter the package is ultimately pushed from between the retaining elements 145 and is either removed from the machine or discharged onto a table, conyeyor belt, or into a chute, not shown. As these retaining elements are mounted on the side frames they are adjustable therewith to properly fit the package that is being wrapped by the machine.

From the above described construction it will be appreciated that an improved wrapping machine has been provided which is quite versatile in its ability to be adjusted both laterally and vertically to accommodate packages of a multiplicity of sizes. Lateral adjustment of the second tucker members, the cam members and the heaters 1-31 and 132 is accomplished by merely rotating the hand wheel 83. Vertical adjustment is accomplished by merely loosening the nut 1'91 and adjusting the quadrant 98 by means of its handle 99. This vertical adjustment can take place in any position of lateral adjustment of the side frames. When this adjustment occurs it also brings about a simultaneous adjustment of the supplemental cam members 122 so'that the edge 126 is always'in proper position with relation to the package to effect a proper downward folding of the top side flap portion of the wrapper whenever this edge is exposed or disposedbeneath the edge 120. As the packages with their wrappers are forced through the machine the various operations on the ends of the wrapper are progressively performed and as the second tucker members only present narrow edges which engage thewrapper, frictional drag tending to distort the wrapper is reduced to a minimum. Similarly as the opposed cam or plow members converge rearwardly these do not impose a drag on the wrapper except at the extreme rear ends thereof just before the package is disposed between the heaters 131 and 132. Consequently the wrapper is in its tightest condition about the package P just before the heaters 131 and 132 are applied thereto to perform the final sealing operation.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine for completing the wrapping of packages having a circumferential wrapping of thermoplastic material initially applied thereto, the combination of a supporting frame, a pair of spaced oppositely disposed package end folding devices mounted on said frame and defining a passageway for the movement of a package therethrough, each of said devices comprising a base member secured to said frame carrying flap forming and folding devices including a lower leading edge intucking element, bottom flap primary and secondary folders, a guide rail extending parallel to said base member and mounted for vertical adjustment relative to said base member; said guide rail supporting an upper leading edge intucking element and a top flap primary folder, a top flap secondary folder having one end thereof pivotally connected to said guide rail and having the other end thereof pivotally and slidably connected to said base member; the mounting means forsaid guide rail comprising a pair of identical bellcrank members pivotally mounted on said base member and each having horizontal and vertical arm portions; said horizontal arm portions being connected to said guide rail and said vertical arms being interconnected by a link, and manually operable means engaging one each of said pairs of bellcrank members effective to rock said members uniformly and simultaneously in the same direction with resultant change in the vertical position of said guide rail and the folding devices carried thereby to accommodate the thickness of the package to be wrapped and sealed thereby, and sealing means for uniting the. overlapping ends of an initially applied wrapping comprising a heating element disposed in said passagewa 2. In a package wrapping and sealing machine, the combination of a table structure, package feeding means mounted for reciprocation in a plane parallel to and above the top of said table structure, an operating treadle connected to said package feeding means, package end folding devices disposed to form a package receiving passageway in alignment with the line of movement of said feeding means, package wrapping side sealing means disposed at the proximal end of said passageway, package end sealing means at the distal end of said passageway, and connections between said end sealing means and said foot pedal operative to cause said sealing means to contact a package only during the movement of a package past said sealing means incident to operation of said pedal.

3. In a package wrapping and sealing machine, the combination of table structure, package feeding means mounted for reciprocation in a plane parallel to and above the top of said table structure, and operating treadle connected to said package feeding means, package end folding devices disposed to form apackage receiving passageway in alignment with the line of movement of said feeding means, package wrapping side sealing means disposed at the proximal end of said passageway, package end sealing means at the distal end of said passageway, and connections between said end sealing means and said treadle operative to cause said sealing means to contact a package only during the movement of a package past said sealing means incident to operation of said pedal; said last named connections including adjusting means effective to vary the pressure of said end sealing elements against a package.

4. In a machine for completing the wrapping of packages having a circumferential wrapping of thermoplastic material initially applied thereto, the combination of a supporting frame, package feeding means, a pair of oppositely disposed package end folding devices defining a passageway for packages caused to traverse said passageway by said package feeding means; each of said devices comprising a base member, a top guide member mounted thereon with capacity for adjustment vertically toward and from said base member, means effective to intuck the wrapping at the leading edge of a package, an upper primary folding element mounted on said top guide member, a lower primary folding element carried by said base member, an upper secondary folding element pivotally connected at one end to said top guide member and slidably connected to said base member, and a lower secondary folding element carried by said base member.

5. In a'machine for completing thewrapping of packages having a circumferential wrapping of thermoplastic material initially applied thereto, the combination of a supporting frame, package feeding means, a pair of oppositely disposed package end folding devices defining a passageway for packages caused to traverse said passageway by said package feeding means; each of said devices comprising a base member, a top guide member mounted thereon with capacity for adjustment vertically toward and from said base member, means effective to intuck the wrapping at the leading edge of a package, an upper primary folding element mounted on said top guide member, a lower primary folding element carried by said base member, an upper secondary folding element pivotally connected at one end to said top guide member and slidably connected to said base member, a lower secondary folding element carried by said base member, a heating element disposed at the discharge end of said passageway, and manually operable means effective to cause said heating element to engage the end of a package only when the package is moving along said passageway.

sageway by said package feeding means, means for cen-v tering a package with respect to the passageway and feeding it thereto and intucking the trailing end edges of a wrapping associated therewith, each of said end folding devices comprising a base member, a top guide member mounted thereon with capacity for adjustment vertically toward and from said base member, means effective to intuck the wrapping at the leading edge of a package, an upper primary folding element mounted on said top guide member, a lower primary folding element carried by said base member, an upper secondary folding element pivotally connected at one end to said top guide member and slidably connected to said base member, and a lower secondary folding element carried by said base member.

7. In a package wrapping machine, the combination of a supporting frame, package feeding means, and a pair of oppositely disposed package end folding devices defining a passageway for packages caused to traverse said passageway by said package feeding means; said folding devices including means to simultaneously and uniformly adjust both of said devices to accommodate packages of different thicknesses, the folding means of each of said devices including a diagonally disposed folding element having one end thereof pivotally connected to a portion of the device which is moved incident to said vadjustment and having the other end thereof slidably and piv- 1 l ot-a'lly connected to a portion of said device which is not moved incidentto said adjustment.

8. In a package wrapping machine, the combination of a supporting frame, package feeding means, a pair of oppositely disposed package end folding devices defining a passageway for packages caused to traverse said passageway by' said package feeding means; said. folding devices including means manually operable to simultaneously and uniformly adjust said devices to accommodate packages of different thicknesses, the folding means of said devices including a diagonally disposed wrapper folding element having one end thereof pivotally connected to a port-ion of the device which is moved by said manually operable means and having the other end thereof slidably and pivotally connected to another portion of said device which is not moved by said manually operable and a second adjusting means constructed and arranged to move said end folding devices simultaneously and uniformly toward and from the center line of said passageway to accommodatepackages of different lengths.

9. In a package wrapping and sealing machine, the combin .tion of a table structure, package feeding means mounted for reciprocation in a plane parallel to and above the top of said table structure, an operating treadle connected to said package feeding means, package end fold ing' devices d sosed to form a package receiving passageway in- ,nn1 :nt with the line of movement of said feeding means, package wrapping side sealing means disposed at the proximal end of said passageway, package end sealing means at the distal end of said passageway, and connections between said end sealing means and said foot pedal operative to cause said sealing means to contact a package only during the movement of a package past said sealing means incident to operation of said pedal; the path of travel of said package feeding means being so disposed that at each package feeding stroke the package fed thereby will be moved completely across said side seaiing means and into said passageway.

10. In a package wrapping machine, a support, two

opposed side frames upon said support and defining a passage therebetween through which packages to be wrapped may pass, pushing means reciprocable upon said support for pushing packages into said passage, said pushing means having tuckers mounted thereon for folding the trailing edge flap portions of a wrapper about the package inwardly over the ends of the package, second tuckers horizontally disposed on the side frames presenting edges towards the ends of the package for folding the leading edge flap portions of the wrapper inwardly against the ends of the package, plows or cams on the side frames behind the tuckers thereon for folding the Me flap portions of the wapper consecutively against the ends of the package over the edge flap portions, heaters pivotally mounted on the side frames, said heaters being adapted to assume positions spaced from the ends of a package traversing said package, and means for swinging the heaters into engagement with the ends of the wrapped package to effect a sealing thereof.

ll'. In a package wrapping machine, a support, two opposed side frames upon said support and defining a passage therebetween through which packages to be wrapped may pass; pushing means reciprocable upon said supportfor pushing packages into said passage, said pushing means having ers mounted thereon for folding the trailing edge flap portions of a wrapper about the package inwardly over the ends of the package, second tuckers horizontally disposed on the side frames presenting edges towards the ends of the package for folding the leading edge flap portions of the 1 apper inwardly against the ends of the package, plows cams on the side frames behind the tuckers thereon for folding the side flap portions of the wrapper consecutively against the ends of the package over the edge portions, heaters pivotally mounted on the side frames, said heaters beingadapted-to-assume positions spaced from the ends of a package traversing said package, and means for swinging the heaters into engagement with the ends of the wrapped package to effect a sealing thereof operable bythe pushing means.

12'. In a package wrapping machine, a support, two opposed side frames upon said support defining a passage therebetween through which packages to be wrapped may pass, means for causing packages to pass through the passage between the side frames, tucking means for foldthe tra" g edge flap portions of a wrapper about the :avardly and forwardly over the ends of the package, second tuckers on the side frames for folding the leading edge flap portions inwardly and rearwardly over the ends of the package, the second trackers being in the form of upper and lower horizontally disposed members presenting surfaces toward the ends of the pack g s and which engage the leading edge flap portions of the vrapper, each side frame having a top rail beneath which an end of the package is caused to pass, means for verticaladjusting the top rails to accommodate packages of different thicknesses, the upper second tuckers being connected to the top rails so as to be vertically adjustable therewith, plows on the side frames for folding the ends of wrapper downwardly, the last-mentioned plows being pivotally connected to the top rails so as to be vertically adjustable therewith and having a pivotal and slidable connection with the side frames.

13. in package wrapping machine, a support, two opposed side frames upon said support defining a passage thercbetween through which packages to be wrapped may pass, means for causing packages to through the passage between the side frames, tucking means for folding the trailing edge flap portions of a wrapper about the package inwardly and forwardly over the ends of the package, second tuckers on the side frames for folding the leading edge flap portions inwardly and rearwardly over the ends of the package, the second tuckers being in the form of upper and lower relatively fiat horizontally disposed members presenting towards the ends of the packages and which engage the leading edge flap portions of the wrapper, said second tuckers terminating in rearwardly extending tongues which decreases in width rearwardly, the rearwardly extended tongues on the lower second tuckers terminating in advance of the tongues on the upper second tuckers,

plows on the side frames for folding the bottom side flaps of the wrapper upwardly as the package passes the tongues on the bottom second tuckers, and plows mounted on the side frames for folding the top side flaps of the wrapper downwardly over the upwardly foldedbottom side flaps as the package passes the tongues onthe upper second tuckers.

14. in a package wrapping machine, a support, two opposed side frames upon said support and defining a passage thercbetween through which packages that have been wrapped circumferentially may pass, means for tucking the trailing edge flap portions of the wrapper inwardly and forwardly over the ends of the package and advancing the packages through the passage, said side' frames having top rails thereon beneath which the ends of the packages are caused to pass, said top rails being vertically adjustable to accommodate packages of various thicknesses, an upper and lower second tucker on each side frame for folding the leading ed e flap portions of the wrapper inwardly and rcarwardly over the ends of the package, the upper second tuckers being vertically adjustable with the top rails relatively to the lower second: tuckers so that the relationship between the upper second tuckers and the top of the package may be properly mainained with all package thicknesses, and means for folding the side flap portions of the wrapper over the endsof the package over the edge fiap portions.

'--l5.-'l-na package wrapping machine, a support, two,

the bottom of the wrapper upwardly, and plows on the side frames for folding the ends of the top of the narrow elongated edges 13 opposed side frames on the support defining a passage therebetween through which packages that have been wrapped circumferentially may pass, means for simultaneously adjusting the side frames toward and away from each other to adjust the width of said passage to accommodate said packages of variouslengths, means for tucking the trailing edge flap portions inwardly and forwardly over the ends of the package and advancing the packages through the passage, an upper and lower second tucker on each side frame for tucking the leading edge flap portions inwardly and rearwardly over the ends of the package, means for simultaneously adjusting the upper second tuckers relatively to the lower second tuckers in all positions of adjustment of the side frames, and means on the side frames for folding the side flap portions of the wrapper consecutively over the ends of the package and over the edge flap portions.

16. In a package wrapping machine, a support, means on said support defining a passage through which packages to be wrapped may pass, means for feeding packages through said passage, tucking means for folding the trailing edge flap portions of a wrapper about the package inwardly and forwardly over the trailing portion of the ends of the package, upper and lower second tuckers located along each side of the passage and operative to fold the leading edge flap portions of the wrapper 1nwardly and rearwardly over the ends of the package, each of said upper and lower tuckers presenting an elongated narrow edge extending in the direction of the passage of the packages for contacting the leading and trailing edge flaps and maintaining such flaps against the end of the package adjacent the top and bottom of the package, said lower second tuckers being located adjacent to and spaced from said support, and means mounting said upper second tuckers for transverse adjustment toward and away from said lower second tuckers.

17. In a package wrapping machine, a support, means on said support defining a passage through which packages to be wrapped may pass, means for feeding packages through said passage, tucking means for folding the trailing edge flap portions of a wrapper about the package inwardly and forwardly over the ends of the package, parallel upper and lower second tuckers located along each side of the passage and operative to fold the leading edge flap portions of the wrapper inwardly and rearwardly over the ends of the package, each of said upper and lower tuckers presenting an elongated narrow edge extending the direction of the passage of the packages for contacting the leading and trailing edge flaps and maintaining such flaps against the end of the package adjacent the top and bottom of the package, said lower second tuckers being located adjacent to and spaced from said support, and means mounting said upper second tuckers for transverse adjustment toward and away from said lower second tuckers in parallel relation thereto.

18. In a package wrapping machine, a support, means on said support defining a passage through which packages to be wrapped may pass, means for feeding packages through said passage, tucking means for folding the trailing edge flap portions of a wrapper about the package inwardly and forwardly over the ends of the package, parallel upper and lower second tuckers located along each side of the passage and operative to fold the leading edge flap portions of the wrapper inwardly and rearwardly over the ends of the package, each of said upper and lower tuckers presenting an elongated narrow edge extending in the diretcion of the passage of the packages for contacting the leading and trailing edge flaps and maintaining such flaps against the end of the package adjacent the top and bottom of the package, said lower second tuckers being located adjacent to and spaced from said support, and means mounting said upper second tuckers for simultaneous transverse adjustment toward and away from said lower second tuckers in parallel relation thereto.

19. In a package wrapping machine, a support, means on said support defining a passage through which packages to be wrapped may pass, means for feeding packages through said passage, tucking means for folding the trailing edge flap portions of a wrapper about the package inwardly and forwardly over the ends of the package, upper and lower second tuckers located along each side of the passage and operative to fold the leading edge flap portions of the wrapper inwardly and rearwardly over the ends of the package, said upper and lower second tuckers comprising parallel members having narrow longtiudinal edge portions extending lengthwise of the passage in position to engage said leading edge flap portions of the package wrapper, and means mounting said upper and lower second tuckers for lateral adjustment toward and away from each other, and for mounting said upper second tuckers for adjustment toward and away from said lower second tuckers in parallel relation thereto, ,at all positions of lateral adjustment of said upper and lower second tuckers.

20. The invention according to claim 16 in which upwardly extending side portions are arranged outwardly of the passage and carry the upper and lower second tuckers, said side portions being spaced outwardly from the elongated narrow edges of the tuckers in amount sufiicient to permit uninterrupted passage of the bottom side and top side flaps, and package engaging top rails mounted on said side portions for engaging the top side of the package and maintaining the packages on said support, said upper second tuckers being supported in definite relation on said rails.

21. The invention according to claim 20, in which the top side package engaging rails and the upper second tuckers are mounted for simultaneous movement whereby a single adjustment transverse to said support will accommodate for diiferent thicknesses of packages.

22. The invention according to claim 21, in which 'the side portions are mounted for adjustment toward and away from each other for accommodating packages of varying end-toend dimensions.

23. The invention according to claim 22, in which a single control element provides for the variation .in transverse adjustment for accommodating different thicknesses of packages and another single control element accommodates for the variation in length of the package whereby the adjustment of the second tucker and thepassageway may be made by two controls.

24. The invention according to claim 16, in which the tucking means for folding the trailing edge flap portions of a Wrapper include upper and lower tuckers which may be adjusted transversely to receive the cooperating upper and lower second tuckers therebetween for positively guiding the trailing edge fiaps into operative relation with the second tuckers.

25. The invention according to claim 24, in which the tucking means at opposite ends of the package are adjustable to accommodate for variations in the end-to-end dimension of the package.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 682,817 Shaner Sept. 17, 1901 1,016,067 Fischer Jan. 30, 1912 1,055,461 Hohl Mar. 11, 1913 1,062,410 Merrell et al. May 20, 1913 1,350,608 Harriss" Aug. 24, 1920 1,553,799 Beam Sept. 15, 1925 1,554,369 Remington Sept. 22, 1925 1,677,924 Metcalf July 24, 1928 1,824,266 Haas Sept. 22, 1931 2,026,136 Miller Dec. 31, 1935 2,144,265 Milmoe Jan. 17, 1939 2,246,268 Smith June 17, 1941 2,281,887 Smith May 5, 1942 

